Is the Canada Summer Jobs Programme based on lies and fraud?

Section 380 (1) Every one who, by deceit, falsehood or other fraudulent means, whether or not it is a false pretence within the meaning of this Act, defrauds the public or any person, whether ascertained or not, of any property, money or valuable security or any service

An Alberta couple, Rhea Lynne Anderson and William Anderson, refused to check the “I attest” box on their application for the Canada Summer Jobs Programs, and has chosen instead to file a suit against the federal minister of employment alleging the application process to qualify for the Canada Summer Jobs program violates their Charter Rights.

Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) is an initiative of the Summer Work Experience program. It provides wage subsidies to employers to create employment for secondary and post-secondary students.

Employers who intend to hire youth who are in underrepresented groups, including new immigrant youth/refugees, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and visible minorities.

Small businesses, in recognition of their contribution to the creation of jobs

Organizations that support opportunities for official language minority communities

Organizations that provide services and/or supports for the LGBTQ2 community

Organization that support opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and information and communications and technology (ICT), particularly for women.

Organizations that apply for federal funding under Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) programme must sign the following “Attestation”:

I have read and understood the Canada Summer Jobs Articles of Agreement and referred to the Applicant Guide as needed;

The job would not be created without the financial assistance provided under a potential contribution agreement;

Both the job* and my organization’s core mandate* respect individual human rights in Canada, including the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as other rights. These include reproductive rights and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of sex, religion, race, national or ethnic origin, colour, mental or physical disability or sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression;

I have all the necessary authorities, permissions and approvals to submit this application on behalf of myself and the organization.

In order to qualify for the federal summer jobs funding organizations must sign this “attestation” stating that their “core mandate” respects amongst other things “ reproductive rights,” a euphemism for abortion, and the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.

Initial search of the list of employers that have been approved for funding under Canada Summer Jobs 2018 reveals that the mission statement and/ or the core values of some of these organizations may be in conflict with the text of the attestation. If this is the case, the policy of the federal government predicating the funding with a signed attestation may have created the incentive for some organizations to lie about their “core mandate” and values. Isn’t that fraud? A nation-wide fraud with the implicit consent of the federal government?

This issue begs further investigation by the legal experts and the government.

From the Ethics of the Fathers: “Rabbi Tarfon used to say, it is not incumbent upon you to complete the task, but you are not exempt from undertaking it.”